This unforgettable, magical novel takes for its premise an inspired bit of speculation based firmly in history: Leonardo da Vinci's conception of a marvelous flying machine. Set against the colorful backdrop of Italy and Persia in the 1400s, The Memory Cathedral masterfully calls forth a dazzling era when magic and science were one and the same.

"The Imperial Wife is a smart, engaging novel that parallels two fascinating worlds and two singular women. Irina Reyn writes beautifully of immigrants, art and the vagaries of love."--Jess Walter, National Book Award finalist and author of the New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Ruins Two women's lives collide when a priceless Russian artifact comes to light. Tanya Kagan, a rising specialist in Russian art at a top New York auction house, is trying to entice Russia's wealthy oligarchs to bid on the biggest sale of her career, The Order of Saint Catherine, while making sense of the sudden and unexplained departure of her husband. As questions arise over the provenance of the Order and auction fever kicks in, Reyn takes us into the dazzling world of Catherine the Great, the infamous 18th-century empress, who may have owned the priceless artifact, and who, it turns out, faced many of the same issues Tanya wrestles with in her own life. Suspenseful and beautifully written, The Imperial Wife asks whether we view female ambition any differently today than we did in the past. Can a contemporary marriage withstand an "Imperial Wife"?

"The Magnificent Epic of The Woman History Called "Bloody Mary."

Winner of the Jewish Book Awards, this book shares the struggles and strength of three young girls growing up in post-Holocaust Israel as they learn to lean on each other while processing the loss and pain of all they have endured. Growing up in post-Holocaust Israel, Avita, Yola, and Mira are all living in Udim, a youth village nestled along Israel's coastal plain. But beyond sharing their home village, the girls are united through a common sorrow—the pain of longing for lost loved ones. As they grow through their struggles and come to terms with the tragedies that have happened, Avita, Yola, and Mira find friendship and comfort as they become closer, discover more about each other, and learn they are not alone. “It is impossible to come away from this novel without added insight into the impact of war and admiration for those who endure its horrors.” – Publishers Weekly

Many writers and artists have undertaken the difficult task of recreating the image of Lenin for their contemporaries and future generations. The Blue Notebook by the well-known Soviet author Emmanuil Kazakevich (1913-1962) has become one of the most popular books about Lenin. A notebook in a blue cover actually did exist. In it Lenin jotted down notes for his famous book State and Revolution which he worked on in the difficult days preceding the Great October Socialist Revolution. At the time Lenin was in hiding at Razliv Station, from where he directed the preparations for the armed uprising. "He was a passionate traveler, a hunter, a crack shot, a top-notch driver, the life of the party, witty and full of fun... Moreover, he was a truly courageous soldier." This portrait of Kazakevich was drawn by his contemporary and colleague, the writer Alexander Tvardovsky. During the Second World War Kazakevich, commander of a platoon, was asked to join the staff of the brigade newspaper. After working on the paper for a short while he asked to be transferred back to the front lines. "The front lines are important to me not only as a patriot, but as a writer," he said. Emmanuil Kazakevich was born in the Ukraine in 1913, the son of a teacher. His first book, a volume of poetry, was published in 1932. He translated the works of Pushkin, Lermontov, and Mayakovsky into Yiddish. Kazakevich's first prose work, The Star, is a harsh, yet sensitive war story which gained him world fame. This was followed by Spring on the Oder, Heart of a Friend, Two in the Steppe, The House on the Square, By the Light of Day and The Blue Notebook, the author's last work. Kazakevich was twice awarded the State Prize for Literature.

Long ago, in 1845, a young girl named Gretchen and her family were on their way west. One day, the horse Gretchen was riding strayed far away from the wagon train. Gretchen was lost and all alone. But then a magnificent white stallion appeared. And Gretchen knew she didn't have to be afraid, because the beautiful horse would show her the way back home.

From a small, bogside cabin in rural New England, 38-year-old Aimee Slater unravels the story of her life, attempting to make sense of the tangled thread that leads from her mother's house-a short, unbridgeable distance away-to the world she now inhabits. It is soon after the Civil War; Aimee lives alone, but is graced with visits from two friends, a crippled man and a troubled eleven-year-old girl. She is perpetually caught between the sensual world she so desires and the divine retribution passed down to her by her mother's scorn. How Aimee ultimately creates a life for herself and bridges that distance makes for a moving story of love and loss. Told in a voice of spare New England lyricism, Unravelling is a remarkably haunting account of the power of redemption.

No other war has captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of Americans in the way the Civil War has. Now these 25 tales bring to life that troubled time when brave soldiers would heed the call to battle--even from beyond the grave. Includes a rare short story by Anne McCaffrey and four pieces that were nominated for the 1993 Bram Stoker Award.

In August 1948, 545 passengers boarded an overcrowded, clapped-out vessel in Marseilles to face an uncertain future in Australia and New Zealand. they came from displaced persons camps in Germany, death camps in Poland, labour camps in Hungary, gulags in Siberia and stony Aegean islands. there were those who had been hunted by the Nazis and those who had welcomed them; those who had followed the Communists and those who had fled from them. the epic voyage lasted almost three months and was marked by conflict and controversy until it seemed as though this hellship had absorbed the traumas of its passengers. As the conditions on board deteriorated, tension and violence simmered above and below decks. But romances and seductions also flourished, and lifelong bonds were formed. Diane Armstrong set sail on the Derna with her parents when she was nine years old. Like a detective searching for clues, she has located over a hundred of the passengers. through their recollections and memorabilia, as well as archival documents, she has recreated the voyage and traced what became of their hopes and dreams. the result is the unique portrayal of a migrant ship and its passengers.

When Maggie's grandmother passes away, she inherits her house and a mysterious family secret hidden in her prized daisy garden. As she uncovers the truth, Maggie discovers unexpected connections with her past and finds the courage to open her heart to love again. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This book has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten Alpha Editions has made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for the present and future generations. This whole book has been re-formatted, re-typed and re-designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence the text is clear and readable.

Peregrine was the bastard son of the King of Sapodilla, the last pagan kingdom in the world to resist christianity. Accompanied by his page and the rather time-worn sorcerer, Appledore, the prince sallies forth into the Dark Ages to find his fortune. What he find sinstead is: dragons, whores, Huns, Roman Legions, emperors and a most fantastic collection of mysteries and adventures.

From the bestselling author of Prague comes a witty, inventive, brilliantly constructed novel about an Egyptologist obsessed with finding the tomb of an apocryphal king. This darkly comic labyrinth of a story opens on the desert plains of Egypt in 1922, then winds its way from the slums of Australia to the ballrooms of Boston, by way of Oxford, the battlefields of the First World War, and a royal court in turmoil. Just as Howard Carter unveils the tomb of Tutankhamun, making the most dazzling find in the history of archaeology, Oxford-educated Egyptologist Ralph Trilipush is digging himself into trouble, having staked his professional reputation and his fiancŽe's fortune on a scrap of hieroglyphic pornography. Meanwhile, a relentless Australian detective sets off on the case of his career, spanning the globe in search of a murderer. And another murderer. And possibly another murderer. The confluence of these seemingly separate stories results in an explosive ending, at once inevitable and utterly unpredictable. Arthur Phillips leads this expedition to its unforgettable climax with all the wit and narrative bravado that made Prague one of the most critically acclaimed novels of 2002. Exploring issues of class, greed, ambition, and the very human hunger for eternal life, this staggering second novel gives a glimpse of Phillips's range and maturity, and is sure to earn him further acclaim as one of the most exciting authors of his generation.

In France, on the eve of the Revolution, a young man named Claude Page sets out to become the most ingenious and daring inventor of his time. In the course of a career filled with violence and passion, Claude learns the arts of enameling and watchmaking from an irascible, defrocked abbé, apprentices himself to a pornographic bookseller, and applies his erotic erudition to the seduction of the wife of an impotent wigmaker. But it is Claude's greatest device-a talking mechanical head-that both crowns his career and leads to an execution as tragic as that of Marie Antoinette, and far more bizarre. Hailed by critics for the shimmering brilliance of its inventions and its uncanny fidelity to the textures of the past, A Case of Curiosities places Allen Kurzweil securely in the ranks of the finest literary artists of our time.

"Climats" is a profound and elegant psychological novel that explores the intricate complexities of human relationships, love, and the shifting emotional landscapes of the heart. Written by the celebrated French author André Maurois, this masterpiece delves into the lives of Philippe Marcenat and the women who shape his existence, offering a searingly honest portrayal of the joys and devastations of romantic obsession. The narrative is divided into two compelling perspectives. The first part follows Philippe as he recounts his tumultuous marriage to the ethereal but elusive Odile, whose need for freedom clashes with his possessive nature. In the second part, Philippe's second wife, Isabelle, provides a contrasting viewpoint, revealing the challenges of living in the shadow of a past love and the struggle to create a lasting bond. Through these dual narratives, Maurois examines how personal "climates"-the emotional atmospheres individuals bring to their relationships-can both attract and repel, leading to cycles of misunderstanding and longing. Regarded as a classic of 20th-century literature, "Climats" remains a timeless meditation on the nature of jealousy, the difficulty of truly knowing another person, and the pursuit of happiness within the confines of marriage. Its lyrical prose and keen psychological insights continue to resonate with readers seeking a deep understanding of the human condition. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Israeli Nobel Laureate S.Y. Agnon's famous masterpiece, his novel Only Yesterday, here appears in English translation for the first time. Published in 1945, the book tells a seemingly simple tale about a man who immigrates to Palestine with the Second Aliya--the several hundred idealists who returned between 1904 and 1914 to work the Hebrew soil as in Biblical times and revive Hebrew culture. Only Yesterday quickly became recognized as a monumental work of world literature, but not only for its vivid historical reconstruction of Israel's founding society. This epic novel also engages the reader in a fascinating network of meanings, contradictions, and paradoxes all leading to the question, what, if anything, controls human existence? Seduced by Zionist slogans, young Isaac Kumer imagines the Land of Israel filled with the financial, social, and erotic opportunities that were denied him, the son of an impoverished shopkeeper, in Poland. Once there, he cannot find the agricultural work he anticipated. Instead Isaac happens upon house-painting jobs as he moves from secular, Zionist Jaffa, where the ideological fervor and sexual freedom are alien to him, to ultra-orthodox, anti-Zionist Jerusalem. While some of his Zionist friends turn capitalist, becoming successful merchants, his own life remains adrift and impoverished in a land torn between idealism and practicality, a place that is at once homeland and diaspora. Eventually he marries a religious woman in Jerusalem, after his worldly girlfriend in Jaffa rejects him. Led astray by circumstances, Isaac always ends up in the place opposite of where he wants to be, but why? The text soars to Surrealist-Kafkaesque dimensions when, in a playful mode, Isaac drips paint on a stray dog, writing "Crazy Dog" on his back. Causing panic wherever he roams, the dog takes over the story, until, after enduring persecution for so long without "understanding" why, he really does go mad and bites Isaac. The dog has been interpreted as everything from the embodiment of Exile to a daemonic force, and becomes an unforgettable character in a book about the death of God, the deception of discourse, the power of suppressed eroticism, and the destiny of a people depicted in all its darkness and promise.

A disgraced woman. A faraway land. A forbidden love... An unforgettable tale set in Victorian London and 1840s China from a shining, young historical talent.

Dive to Dangerous Depths with Proteus , the Atomic Super-Sub! In the early 1960s, Dell Comics was inspired by the success of the hit movie Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and they recruited legendary comics artist Sam Glanzman--himself a Navy veteran of WWII--to draw Voyage to the Deep , a thrilling adventure series set in the deepest trenches of our planet's oceans and starring the hapless crew of nuclear submarine S.S.N. Proteus . Set during the height of the Cold War and replete with giant monsters, earth-threatening disasters, and even an "anti-matter generator" menacing all life on earth, the short-lived title was more than a disaster movie knock-off. It was also the perfect vehicle for Glanzman's action-packed artistry. For the first time ever, VOYAGE OF THE DEEP gathers all four issues of the hugely entertaining (albeit short-lived) series, fully restored in glorious color and accompanied by a historical essay by Stephen R. Bissette and personal afterword by this compilation's cover artist, Rufus Dayglo.

Endorsed personally by Ayn Rand in 1962, this essay discusses the essentials of Rand's ethics and its crucial relevance to America's intellectual, moral, and political crisis. An excellent commentary on the historical and cultural significance of her ethics and the view of man as a moral ideal.

Hitler's Germany: The Nazi Background To War by Karl Loewenstein is a comprehensive analysis of the rise of the Nazi party and the events that led to the outbreak of World War II. The book delves into the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime in Germany. It examines the role of propaganda, the persecution of Jews and other minorities, and the militarization of German society. The author also explores the international response to Hitler's aggression, including the appeasement policies of Britain and France. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources and historical research, Loewenstein provides a detailed and nuanced account of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the origins of World War II and the rise of totalitarianism in Europe.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.